Chopping Block: Circumcision

Part of a continuing series — We’ve asked readers to submit their ideas for where they would like to see spending cut as state lawmakers battle to close the $15-27 billion shortfall the state confronts.

Today’s suggestion comes from a reader who wants to how much the state could save by not offering circumcision for young males as part of the state’s healthcare programs for the poor.

The answer is somewhat convoluted — the state spent just a little bit more than $6 million to provide about 52,000 circumcisions in 2009. That $6 million came from both state and federal money.

Texas expects to spend about $50 billion on State Health and Human Services, which provides services like Medicaid, during the next budgeting period. About $30 billion of that $50 billion is expected to come from the federal government.

Stephanie Goodman, a spokeswoman with State Health and Human Services, said that the same 3:2 federal to state funding ratio applies to circumcisions. If the state stopped providing the service, it would save about $2.4 million per year.

The World Health Organization (pdf) issued a report in 2007 that said that circumcision was an effective way to reduce the rate of HIV infection for heterosexual males engaging in vaginal sex. However, the report also points out that use of condoms cuts the risk of contracting or spreading HIV and other STD’s significantly more than circumcision does.